The vertical structure and stability of alpha model accretion disks

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (164) References (48) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The vertical structure and stability of alpha model accretion disks. Cannizzo, J. K. ; Wheeler, J. C. Abstract In order to understand the physical processes that determine the time-dependent characteristics of accretion disks, a parameter investigation is conducted of the vertically explicit structure corresponding to steady state, alpha-model thin disk accretion for accreting objects of 1 solar mass. Attention is given to the role of convection in the vertical structure and the location of critical points representing the onset of thermal instability, as well as optically thin conditions. It is shown that the temperature in quiescence is likely to be low for most of the matter, and scaling laws are presented for the fundamental properties of the vertically explicit models from which the time scales for various idealized phenomena are derived. The ordering of three disk time scales obtained should allow discrimination among different models. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series Pub Date: July 1984 DOI: 10.1086/190959 Bibcode: 1984ApJS...55..367C Keywords: Accretion Disks; Binary Stars; Stellar Mass Accretion; Stellar Structure; Variable Stars; X Ray Sources; Convection; Dwarf Novae; Opacity; Radiative Transfer; Stellar Luminosity; Stellar Models; Thermal Instability; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (7)